By Staff Reports
(MAUI) – The County of Maui Department of Public Works, Highways Division, announced that the third and final phase of the Kahekili Highway Resurfacing Project will begin on Monday, October 6, 2014. Work on Phase 3 will start at milepost 10.5 (Wailena Gulch) and conclude at milepost 7 (entrance to Camp Maluhia). Construction is expected to be completed by March 31, 2015.
To help inform affected residents and businesses about the impacts of the final stage of this project, a community meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Velma McWayne Santos (Wailuku) Community Center.
Work includes repairing roadway deficiencies such as potholes, depressions and cracking; resurfacing Kahekili Highway; cutting/removing overhanging trees/brush/vegetation; cleaning and widening shoulders & pavement where possible; and paving shoulder swales for better drainage and reduced erosion.
Once the prep work is completed, paving of the road will continue from milepost 10.5 toward Camp Maluhia. During paving, traffic will not be allowed to pass the work in progress. When the project reaches milepost 9.8, traffic will be detoured around the work between milepost 9.8 and milepost 8.4 through The Cliffs of Kahakuloa to Maluhia Country Estates via Kaukini Loop. When the work reaches milepost 8.4, the road will again be closed again until the work is completed just east of milepost 7 near the entrance to Camp Maluhia.
Phase 3 will cause traffic delays including partial and full road closures during work hours from Monday through Friday, excluding County holidays, from approximately 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. The work schedule may be impacted by inclement weather or by unforeseen conditions. The road closure will be opened as needed to allow the school bus and any emergency responders to pass through the closed area. Residents are asked to adjust family and work schedules to accommodate the safety improvements to this heavily-traveled road, and motorists are asked to obey all posted signs and roadblocks.
“It’s impossible for traffic to pass safely through the construction area because Kahekili Highway is very narrow, which means our trucks and equipment take up the entire road,” said Public Works Director David Goode. “The paving machine itself is nearly the full width of the existing road, which has many twists and turns as well as the dangerously steep drop-offs and high cliffs the area is famous for. The safety of motorists, bicyclists and our workers is of utmost importance, so we thank everyone in advance for their cooperation and understanding.”
The work is being done by County Public Works crews at an estimated cost of $500,000 through the County’s Pavement Preservation program.
The department thanks the public for their patience during the roadway improvements. For more information, contact Raynard Oshiro, Public Works Highways Div. Wailuku District Supervisor, at ph. 270-7443.